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4d ago

Boyhood Home of Pope Leo XIV Draws Intense Interest After Papal Election

The Dolton, Illinois, property has been pulled from the market as its owner evaluates options, including a potential museum or landmark designation.

The childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV is seen in Dolton, Illinois, on May 9, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on May 8, 2025, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Tens of thousands of people packed in St Peter’s Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, waving with both hands, smiling and bowing. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Image
The current owner of Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home first listed the house in Jan. for $219,000, and he cut his asking price to $205,000 later that month and then to $199,900 in February. (Richard Camacho/Prestige Real Estate Images)
Steve Budzik, an estate agent, was astonished to learn that his client’s house in Dolton, Chicago, was once home to the Pope

Overview

  • The house in Dolton, Illinois, was the childhood home of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American pope.
  • Purchased in 2024 for $66,000, the home was renovated and listed in January 2025 for $219,000, later reduced to $199,900 before being delisted after the papal election on May 6, 2025.
  • The owner, Paweł Radzik, received up to nine offers, many above the asking price, shortly after the pope's election was announced.
  • Options for the property include relisting at a higher price, seeking landmark designation, or converting it into a museum honoring the new pope.
  • Local community excitement underscores the cultural and religious significance of the property, though landmark or museum plans would require municipal approval.